Frontier Partner Projects

Ecuador is a pocket-sized slice of beautiful South America. Despite its diminutive size, it is bursting with vibrant culture, mesmerising landscapes, exotic tropical wildlife and pristine habitats. It encompasses the all-consuming emerald Amazon, rich in natural resources and home to a wealth of fascinating creatures.

Ecuador has a picture-perfect capital painted in pastel colours, alive with cafés, clubs, bars, churches and museums. Markets where friendly locals sell their wares are surrounded by the hustle and bustle of traditional street life. In contrast, the peaceful and serene Andes provide a home for indigenous mountain communities and enigmatic mountain creatures alike.

This captivating country contains a culture that is expressed in an abundance of wholesome and delicious cuisine, diverse musical forms and colourful festivals that will enliven your senses. Whilst it is South America's tiniest country, it has everything you could possibly want, including stretches of white sand beaches, expansive plains, steamy jungles and spectacular mountains. All this and more is waiting to be discovered on your spectacular Ecuadorian adventure!

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Discover a a pocket-sized slice of beautiful South America

Teach conversational English against a stunning backdrop

Immerse yourself in a new & exciting culture

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

Minimum age of 18 years

Basic Spanish recommended

FAST FACTS

Location

Andes region, Ecuador

Activities

Teaching English
Teaching other subjects of your choice
Learn Spanish from the locals

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO?

Ecuador is a very poor country and falling oil prices, the 1990s Asia crisis, and the effects of the El Niño climate phenomena, which caused considerable damage to the infrastructure and harvests, have led to a decline in living standards for much of the population. In 1999, according to the World Bank, 69% of the population live below the poverty line, of these 34% in absolute poverty.

The Frontier-Ecuador Project aims to build skills in poor rural and urban communities throughout the country, giving them better chances to succeed in the future. It also aims to foster environmental regeneration by improving facilities for ecotourism.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

Your teaching programme will run five days a week for a few hours each day in the mornings. You'll be teaching conversational English and other subjects of your choice, learning Spanish quickly as you go and making friends with the other teaching staff and international volunteers. You may also involve yourself in the reforestation project that is being run by the local community, as well as any other general community development work as required and appropriate. The wide ranging nature of the work will ensure you take away valuable lessons and with a bit of enthusiasm and commitment to the cause you are bound to have a wonderful time and take away a lifetime's worth of memories.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?

You'll fly into Quito where you'll be met by a friendly Frontier staff representative. He or she will then accompany you on the two hour bus trip to your project site based within an indigenous Andean community in the northwest of the country.

WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?

You'll stay at a wonderful cabin in a cloud forest set in a picturesque landscape of tiny villages and lush vegetation. Your shared cabin will have a bathroom, a bed, and bedding. Your cabin will be within 10–45 minutes walk from your project site.

WHAT WILL I BE EATING?

You will be provided with three meals a day. Your diet will consist of a variety of nutritious and delicious local dishes. Vegetarians will delight in the varieties of rice and bean combinations that are available!

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteers are welcome to explore this fascinating region, where bars, open-air restaurants, cafés, museums, and famous monuments are in plenty! A range of cultural and adventure trips can be arranged. Extra costs may apply.

COSTS

2 weeks
£
599

Extra week
£
159

DEPARTURE DATES

Monthly. Please be aware that in South America, work programmes may be considerably reduced during festive periods or religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas.

This project is not available on the following dates in 2017:

January 1st - New Year

February 28th and 29th - Carnaval

April 13th and 14th - Eastern. Viernes Santo

May 1st - Día del Trabajo

May 24th - Batalla de Pichincha

August 10th - Primer Grito de Independencia

October 9th - Independencia de Guayaquil

November 2nd and 3rd - Dia de los Difuntos e Independencia de Cuenca

December 6th - Fiestas de Quito

December 24th and 25th - Christmas

DURATION

You can join this project for a minimum of 2 weeks

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before you go

Pre-departure support

Travel & medical advice & documentation

Equipment advice

Discounted medical kit

Free Frontier t-shirt

In-country

Accommodation

Food

Airport pick-up

Ground transfers & in-transit accommodation

Local orientation

Project training

In-country emergency support

24-hour international HQ backup

AIRPORT INFORMATION

Nearest airport(s):
Quito (UIO)

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Flights

Flights are not included in our project costs. However, Frontier have partnered with an experienced and professional team of travel experts to help our volunteers find the best flight deals for their trips with Frontier. This travel specialist operates in the tailor-made, long haul multi-stop travel market, arranging complex airfares and transfers for independent travellers. They provide expertise, security and a vast product range along with a Travel Butler service which is a single point of contact and support whilst you are overseas.

We recommend that you obtain a quote using the following contact details rather than book online, as our partner will offer you the most competitive fares. To receive your quote or to seek any advice for your flights, please contact Frontier’s dedicated team of travel experts on 0800 082 9994 (or +44 800 082 9994 outside the UK) or email frontier@flightcentre.co.uk
.

Visas

Depending on your destination country and your country of origin, you might require a visa. Please see the appropriate country consular website for details or contact our affiliate visa consultancy service. Please note that your visa will usually start on the date that you enter the destination country regardless of when it was issued. Please check with the relevant embassy or high commission. If you are purchasing your visa or paying entry/exit fees in-country you will probably need to pay in US Dollars. If you have any questions please consult the relevant embassy or high commission. Please check the visa information regularly, as changes often happen without warning.

Insurance

You'll need to buy appropriate travel insurance covering your participation on the
project. You won't be able to go without the right travel insurance so double check
to avoid disappointment. Please make sure that you're covered for the whole duration
of your trip – from the day you leave the UK to the day you return. It's also best
to get your travel insurance at the same time as paying the deposit for your project.
Depending on your policy, this will cover you for any unexpected cancellations.

Cancellation and curtailment of your trip (up to the value of your project contribution).

If you are going to be scuba diving you should get coverage for scuba diving up
to 30m, including hyperbaric therapy treatment (unlimited). You should consider
obtaining insurance to cover you for any additional activities which you plan to
do during, before, or after your Frontier project. We recommend that you obtain
cover for your baggage and personal effects.

LEGAL STATEMENT
Frontier Partner Projects and Frontier group projects are run in partnership with
in-country NGOs, small community based organisations, local research institutes,
academic organisations and conservation agencies. Project descriptions and information
are supplied directly by our partners or field staff and are accurate at time of
publishing.

We aim to keep information up to date and accurate, however, the nature of our projects
and in particular the fact that they are constantly evolving and developing in response
to changing needs means that project activities, travel schedules, tour itineraries
and daily timetables can change overnight and without notice.

To apply for this project, or to register your interest, just click on the orange "Apply Now!" button at the top of the menu. Fill out and submit a short application form and then one of our advisors will give you a call back to answer any questions and to progress your application if you wish to continue.

There is no obligation when making an application, and you do not need to pay anything at this point.